level_act44side_05_beg

Put me down, I can walk on my own.

Alright.

Wh-What happened?

My room, it's a complete mess... have Kinbee's guys been here already?

Careful, someone might be lying in ambush—

Momoka ignores Hoshiguma's warning and runs towards the window.

Ha...

...suke?

H-How could this happen...?

Who cut my Hasuke?

Cut?

Following Momoka to the window, Hoshiguma sees the objects lined up on it, and...

A flowerpot.

There is only the stem of a plant left; the upper half has been severed.

Hoshiguma turns her head towards the trash can, and sees the upper half lying inside.

Hasuke is a tree?

A sapling! It didn't grow much because I haven't taken good care of it.

Who did this? And why? Why? Why?!

Momoka, calm down—

Let me go! I'll get revenge for Hasuke!

For some reason, Momoka seems to get angrier with each word that Hoshiguma says.

Her eyes are wide. She is panting hard, and trembling all over, seemingly willing to fight to the death.

Hoshiguma instinctively takes a step back and even has the urge to gulp, something that she does not often do. Not that Momoka is trying to do anything to her, but...

Momoka intends to kill. Hoshiguma can sense it.

Hoshiguma takes another step back and touches a water bottle. She immediately pours a cup of water and hands it to Momoka.

Here, have some water.

Momoka does not answer. She snatches the cup out of Hoshiguma's hands and empties it in a single gulp, leaving bite marks on the edge of the paper cup.

At least it seems to have calmed her down a little... if only a little.

It must have been Kinbee's people who did this to Hasuke, right?

Very likely.

But... why?

Did they cut Hasuke to vent their anger just because I wasn't home? How could they do this?

Judging from what I see in the trash can, Hasuke wasn't in very good shape—

Momoka takes a big step towards Hoshiguma. Hoshiguma almost knocks over the water bottle as she flinches.

Of course Hasuke's in bad shape! How could it be anything else, when all my time is occupied with work?

Huh?

Of course I wanted Hasuke to grow up healthy and keep changing its pots until it's too big for my room!

But I have to do overtime when the agency asks. I don't get home until 3 or 4 in the morning, and a lot of times I don't even remember when I last watered it.

But that's okay. I could take notes and measure the water.

But the people at the agency laugh at me when I say I want to take Hasuke with me on long trips!

I tried those blogger tips and put eyedrop vials in the soil, but it doesn't work. Hasuke's leaves are always yellow when I come back from a long trip, and it almost wilted a few times!

I had to work hard to save it every time. How could it grow when it's always on the brink of death?

It's very important to you. Is it...?

The question that came to Hoshiguma's mind was 'a rare species', but she immediately realizes that it is not what she should ask.

Is it... a gift from someone dear to you?

No, I picked it up from the roadside.

The roadside?

I came to Mitsukue with Hanamaru, a cloudbeast I had kept for a long time.

As my work got busier, I no longer had time to care for her, so I gave her away along with her climbing rack. I bought a similar one to remember her.

I knew I didn't have time to keep a pet, so I thought I would keep a plant.

And that was Hasuke?

No, my first one was Ran.

I tried my best to make time to take care of Ran, following the instructions in the manual to the letter, but after a few months...

Hoshiguma glances at the flowerpot next to the cloudbeast climbing rack.

A little seedling sprouted in Ran's pot. I asked the flower shop owner and he said it was a berry seedling, and suggested that I changed pots. That was Ichigo.

Then the windows of my room broke on a windy day, and by the time I got back home...

Ran, Ichigo, Matsumaru, Toge-dono... my plants always die in strange ways. Toge-dono died because of a flood upstairs!

I started suspecting that plants and I just weren't good together, but I couldn't keep a pet because I might have to go on a long trip at a moment's notice at any time.

But I would come home to an empty room, without even a single blade of grass I could talk to without putting on a mask... I couldn't take it anymore, which was why I got Tamasaburou.

This electronic pet? What happened to Tamasaburou?

When I talked to the repair shop owner, he said it left the factory with a defective motherboard.

I picked up Hasuke with its pot from a trash dump on my way back from the repair shop.

When I found Hasuke, I made up my mind... I would give up on keeping a plant if I couldn't keep it alive.

With tears in her eyes, Momoka walks from one end of the window sill to the other, showing them to Hoshiguma one by one. Hoshiguma is not sure whether to laugh or cry, until Momoka pulls the last bag open.

It is not a memorial for a pet or plant, but two memorial tablets. The names inscribed upon them are 'Kazuhiko Shino' and 'Kumiko Shino'.

What is this?

My Mama and Papa.

You don't mean—

No, no, it's not that.

I grew up in Gokawa, near the southern border.

It was a small backwater nomadic city, in Kaneshiro territory. It was known for its plastics and chemical plants, and nothing else.

Waste from the factories had polluted the water supply. People didn't know they were drinking polluted water until a few years before I was born.

I managed to grow up pretty healthy, but my parents were not so lucky.

Papa died when I was very little, around five or six years old. I was brought up by my mother.

I don't remember much about Papa. As for Mama... she was never in good health. She complained about not being able to see clearly, feeling numb in her hands and feet, and was also prone to falling.

The Kaneshiro clan hushed things up, giving people with clear health problems a pittance, while finding all sort of excuses to deny relief to people who could still take care of themselves.

Mama's condition had really deteriorated by the time Kinbee's agency scouted me, partly by persuasion and partly by coercion. She passed away not long after my debut.

I wanted to attend her funeral, but the agency wouldn't let me, because I had become somewhat well-known by then, and they didn't want people to know that I came from Gokawa.

They gave me the surname name 'Hanyuu', which sounds northern, because the surname 'Shino' might clue people in on where I came from.

My relatives took care of the funeral, but the agency prohibited me from telling them the true reason why I couldn't go back.

They cut ties with me after sending Mama's spirit tablet and ashes to me.

The agency told me the best way to comfort my parents' souls was to become a star.

Like force-feeding a fowlbeast, they kept telling me to become the biggest star in Mitsukue, in Higashi, on Terra, that it was the meaning of my entire existence.

And so I kept walking down this path, forcing myself to believe that they were right, until a few days ago.

My performing career was the entirety of my life. Anything that could help my career, I had to do, no matter how unwilling I was. Anything that could hurt my career, I couldn't touch, no matter how attractive it was.

But... I'm tired. I would be, even without all those strange kaidan that keep me on edge every day.

It's not that I don't like my work, but... who can I talk to about things other than work?

So... this is what it's come to. Nothing I kept ever lived long, their memories forming a long row on my window sill...

Silly, isn't it? A girl who kills anything she tries to keep.

Momoka Hanyuu should go home alone, take off her makeup, shower, brush her teeth, and go straight to bed, then straight to work the next day when she wakes up...

Momoka Hanyuu should do exactly as her agency says and stop trying to have a life outside of her performing career.

But Hasuke lived for a long time, even though I never took good care of it. But now... now!

Momoka—

Sorry, what's your real name?

Haruka.

Mama and Papa gave me the name because they wanted me to go far away. Away from Gokawa, away from the dirty water that killed without taste or smell, to live in freedom.

I made it far away, alright. As for living in freedom...

Should I call you...?

No, don't. Call me Momoka. Momoka Hanyuu.

Sorry.

It's not that I don't like the name my parents gave me... how could I not like it?

But... I've come too far. I don't have a choice anymore.

Haruka Shino has no parents, no relatives, no friend who knows the name. A breeze... a breeze is all it takes to blow her away.

All I am is Momoka Hanyuu, the performer.

Even if the agency doesn't want me anymore, even if Kinbee wants me to get Oripathy, even if he's trying to silent me, Momoka Hanyuu is the only thing I am, and the only thing I can be.

Silence.

Then... pack up, Momoka. We're leaving.

Kinbee's ninjas could come back at any time. We need to go to Kajimachi.

Yeah.

The Ægir wipes her tears and starts packing silently.

Then she looks up at Hoshiguma, forcing a smile on her tear-stained face.

Say, can we go and see the fireworks tomorrow? I've been living in Mitsukue for so many years, but I've never had the chance... never had the time to go.

I used to tell Mio-san that I would go to the riverside and watch the fireworks if I ever lost my job. Now, it looks like...

Well...

She never finishes the sentence as her smile gradually fades, as though she knows that it is a silly question, and is just waiting for someone to interrupt.

Hoshiguma cannot find the words to console her.

Bring it on, <i>bakayaro!</i>

I'll pay you double what that <i>gomikuzu</i> Kinbee is paying to cut off that white tail of his! I wanted a belt to go with this outfit anyway—

Stop throwing this crap! What's in it? Kinbee's dirty photos or something? How much do you have to hate it to throw stuff like this?

Watch your tongue.

That's what I was waiting for!

A jam?! Are you kidding me?

Ouch!

My hand... I can't move it...

What do those famous people say in their death poems? 'In the fifty years of human life'? Well I haven't lived that long...

Shut it. I was just planning to take you to the oyabun, but it looks like Mitsukue would be a better place without you.

Ha, now ain't that an honor...

Shut up and accept your death, lest your spirit become a ghost that shall not know rest—

What's that?!

My blade! It was broken by a shogi piece?!

Careful, Tessai! They mean business!

Take this, old bastard!

The ninja yells at Tessai, but throws the broken sword to Kichisei lying on the ground.

Kichisei sees Tessai's movements clearly for the first time.

His iron fan pulls in the broken blade like a magnet. Tessai swings the fan, and the blade flies from the fan—

Gugh...

Th-Thanks, Old Man... you saved my skin...

You want to sleep, do it in a bed. You still have to mind the parlor tomorrow.

Alright...

Footsteps! Are there more of them?

Hoshiguma... Momoka too! Are you alright?

Were you crying, Momoka?

I'm fine.

Kichisei, you...?

Would be dead if the Old Man didn't show up.

Uncle Tessai, Momoka's being hunted by Kinbee's people and has nowhere to go. I want to hide her in Kajimachi for a while...

No problem! Plenty of space in the Old Man's pachinko parlor—

Kichisei takes one glance at Tessai and realizes that he is not exactly in a great mood.

What I mean is, she can stay upstairs in my shop!

Hmph, suit yourself.

Thanks, Old Man! I'll take her—

One moment. Do you really plan on parading her through the town as though that son of mine doesn't exist?

You mean... Tetsuya?

He's been snooping around. The girl can stay at my place until he leaves.

...He won't go there.

Well, let's go home—

Tetsuya?!

The Lucky Star ain't open today. What are you trying to do, barging in while I'm out?

Er, I...

I'm sorry! I was looking for the Northern Court spy, and I haven't searched your home yet, so...

I'm the only one here. Do I look like a spy to you?

Wait, how did you get hurt? Was it the Northern Court—

Why would a Northern Court spy attack me? Just got in a little fight, that's all. All I need is a good night's sleep.

Er, how about I bandage it up for you?

I almost forgot. You started studying medicine before working for Kinbee, and wanted to try your skills on anyone in town who had a bump or bruise. Must've read too many swordfight manga...

Fine, suit yourself. Let's see if your skills have improved.

Who did this to you? It almost went all the way through.

Would you believe me if I said it was Kinbee?

Don't talk bad about Mifune-san, Kichisei. He's doing it for the greater good.

Forget the greater good, I remember how YOU were crying about how you were gonna become a swordmaster and clear your mom's name.

What happened to that with the development of Kajimachi? Did the window displays in the luxury shops eat up all your time?

I left. I didn't have to live off compensation money like you all, and I didn't want you to think that I was working for him out of greed.

What kind of bloody <i>baka</i> are you?

I'm not kidding, it was Kinbee's men who did this to me! I would be dead if your pop didn't step in!

—What?

Ouch!

Sorry! But—no, why would Mifune-san want to kill you? It must be a misunderstanding!

Misunderstanding? I saw Hoshiguma once at the shrine, and then his men started tailing me. You tell me where the misunderstanding is!

I-I'll go and find him! I'll smooth things over, if he's really angry at you for some reason.

Are you his son?

You're beyond saving. Seriously, I want to introduce the muzzle of my gun to that dumbass mouth of yours.

Now get lost, before I actually do it. I'll wrap the rest of the wounds myself.

...What a loser.

So that's the truth behind the kaidan?

What about your family home? Shimasu, Sanoguchi... that bastard Kinbee killed all of them?

Strictly speaking, I only have proof for Sanoguchi.

Do they have evidence, then, Moriuchi, Momoka, and that so-called kami?

Do you have proof for the Diet candidate dying by your hand twenty years ago?

I...

I could never forget what happened that night.

You came back with blood all over you, standing at the door of this very manor, not saying a single word.

I thought you had failed to stop Kinbee, but you told me that the Diet was dead, and you killed him.

You accidentally killed Shuuji, whom you were close to, while trying to stop Kinbee. Then you went berserk and started killing indiscriminately...

The Diet candidate was dead by the time you came to your senses.

Who can prove that you did it? Only yourself, when you don't even remember what happened?

If you think that Mifune didn't kill Shimasu and the others, what makes you say that you killed the Diet candidate?

Well...

There was a succession crisis brewing, and you did, indeed, kill brothers of the clan—not one, but several.

You thought the people wouldn't accept someone who would kill her own brothers. Indeed, you couldn't accept it yourself.

The Diet candidate was dead, and my relationship with you was much better than with Kinbee. Placing the blame on you would prove that I was fair and unbiased, at least.

Kinbee was a valued administrator who was conducting the bulk of Kinsekikai's transformation. He put in honest work back then, and was more valuable than someone like you, who only contributed to fighting.

All of these were things that you said to me the next day, when your reason had fully returned. Your arguments were valid, for the greater good, and impossible to ignore at the time.

Did any of it have to do with who killed the Diet candidate, though?

I wanted a straight answer. Did you kill the Diet candidate by the name of Koretou? Yes or no?

You said... 'Yes'.

The rest was history... I pinned the blame on you, then smuggled you to Lungmen. To everyone else, you had gone missing, having likely committed suicide because you feared punishment for the murder.

But one lie must be covered up by another lie. If you had killed the Diet candidate, then Kinbee and his people must have gone to protect him... things snowballed from there.

Let me ask you again, Hoshiguma: Did you kill the candidate?

If the answer is yes, then there is nothing else to say. I did my best after you committed the deed, and it is my fault that the Kinsekikai has become what it is today.

If not...

Tessai says nothing more, but gazes straight into Hoshiguma's eyes.

...The only thing I hoped when I came back was that my sacrifice was not in vain, and that things had gotten better for the Kinsekikai.

But I was wrong.

So you didn't kill him?

No, I...

I don't know.

I remember nothing from when I accidentally killed Shuuji until I saw the candidate's lifeless body. All I know is that I had gone on a rampage.

Then why did you say 'Yes'?

Hoshiguma says nothing and looks in the direction of her family home.

Because of your father?!

What are you doing here, Papa?

Wh-Why are there so many bad people lying on the ground? Did you kill all of them?

It's alright, Kajimachi is safe. Uncle Tessai's looking for you—

I-Is that Aunt Setsuko? Grandma Kinue, too... did the bad people kill them? Even Tetsuya?!

Let's go, Papa, we need to tell Uncle Tessai—

Wh-Why are you pointing your blade at me?

Uncle Tessai! Something's wrong with Papa—

Papa?!

Yes, your father had killed Tetsuya in his madness. But what do Setsuko and my mother's death have to do with him? Hadn't he been protecting them?

I told you, Tetsuya... not just him, but what happened to your father too, it was all the fault of those wandering Oni! None of this would happened, if not for them!

Besides, since when did I say that you needed to take responsibility for what your father did?

I'm not taking responsibility for him.

All I know is that... I was just like him at the time.

It was either me or Kinbee who killed the candidate. It wouldn't have been anyone else.

But it could have been me.

And if things had gone on, it would have been me, sooner or later.

The aging Oni grabs a shogi piece from the table and smashes it to bits on the ground.

Yes, I was angry at your father, but you've always been like a daughter to me!

Do you know who I was thinking of when I made that Oni face on Hannya? Do you know why I gave you the shield before you left?

It was for you that I made Hannya, so that you wouldn't repeat the mistakes of your father!

That fallen noble house where I bought the materials and craftsmanship once had a splendid collection of legendary weapons.

The stories say that they stole the secret arts of a temple, allowing them to craft weapons that were not only incredibly sharp, but also able to suppress the madness of the Oni.

I didn't know if it was real, but the craftsmanship certainly was, and I made the shield intending for it to be my final work.

But I felt hesitant at the ultimate step.

The handle?

The handle.

According to the laws of the secret art, the part connected to the palm must be polished by the wielder personally, until it fits comfortably in the bare hand.

It was like someone had poured cold water over me... the intention, clearly, was to make one learn self-discipline.

What discipline would it take to polish a piece of metal until it fits comfortably in the hand? There would be no need for any secret art!

So I never gave you the shield, which was why everyone who felt themselves up to it had designs on the clan's leadership.

That's why there were so many internal clashes at the time. High-ranking members looked for any opportunity to take each other out, but it was the rank-and-file who suffered the most, and even the honest folk of Kajimachi became caught in the struggle...

...That's how the events of that night came to be.

Hoshiguma is silent.

Karma, karma!

Right or wrong, things have come too far. There is no way to turn back the clock.

How has Lungmen been?

If life hasn't been kind, take your weapon, and we'll have Kinbee's head, if that's the last thing we do. We're descendants of warriors, and we'll have a warrior's death.

If life has been alright, then leave now, and never think about Kinbee or me again. What happened between your father and I is between the two of us. It's not your fault.

Stop going against your heart for the greater good. It's not your place to do so.

Lungmen...

...has been kind to me.

For the first time tonight, Tessai sees Hoshiguma's gaze meet his.

I'm glad to hear that.

But I'll go with you.

Why?

If this is indeed karma, then I want to clean up the loose ends before I go back to Lungmen.

Very well.

Give Hannya to me.

You've decided how to reforge it?

The reforged Hannya would already have been yours, if you haven't been running around with that Momoka girl.

What's this ribbon?

A gift from my friends in Lungmen. I've been using it.

Take this. It's a step forward that you've learned to make compromises. I wouldn't bet against you, if you faced Chi Xiao once again, wielding the reforged Hannya.

It's a good thing to reforge Hannya, but... there's someone I need to rescue. Kinbee's got Moriuchi.

The information broker who sells oden?

The reforging of Hannya can't wait.

The kaidan were fabricated by Kinbee. The only people who know this are you, me, Momoka... a certain kami, and Moriuchi. Kinbee would never let him walk.

It's partly my fault that he's in danger. I need to help him, fast.

I've got something for you, if you need a weapon.

The old man takes out a dusty box from a corner.

What's in the box?

Your old outfit and sword. I've kept them in decent enough condition.

The one that you wielded that night. Take it.

Unless you mean to tell me that you've not changed one bit these twenty years.

Alright.

I see you haven't lost any of your guts.

I've been meaning to ask. What have you been doing in Lungmen?

Your clothes are a little too plain for a triad, but it doesn't seem like you've been leading a quiet life either. What's going on?

Oh, er, I joined the Lungmen police.

Come again?

I work for the L.G.D., the Lungmen police.

You—pfft, hahahahaha!

No wonder the room stinks of cop!